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Yorkshire Company Supply Materials for London Shard

York Handmade, an Alne-based firm established in 1988, will supply 70,000 bricks for the Shard in Central London, and has also been contracted to supply materials for the adjacent London Bridge Place development.

As Europe’s tallest commercial property, the 87-storey Shard development is bringing recognition to firms such as brick-builders York Handmade, and contracts such as this help to encourage firms from all over the UK to market their services in London.

It also raises awareness of new suppliers to project managers based in the capital, and encourages developers that would otherwise look to overseas suppliers to consider options closer to home.

This is a similar approach to the upcoming London 2010 Olympic Games. Firms that are based in all corners of the UK have been openly encouraged to bid for projects outside of their immediate vicinity, and many have been successful – ranging from sniffer-dog trainers in Wales, to Midlands-based Golden Bear Toys, who are manufacturing and producing the official Olympic mascot.

The London Shard contract is worth ┬ú85,000 to York Handmade, which has created a special brick for the high-profile development called Autumn Sunset.

According to company chairman David Armitage, new trends in architecture have led to contracts such as the Shard development, which is helping to raise awareness of the company.

“This is a very prestigious contract, which really puts York Handmade on the map,” he said, according to The Press. “Our ability to produce attractive bespoke bricks to order means we are now on the radar of influential architects and builders across the country.

“It is fantastic that a Yorkshire company should be playing a significant role in the construction of the most iconic building of the decade in London,” he added.

The Shard and London Bridge Place are part of a wider ┬ú2bn regeneration of the area, and both developments have been scheduled for completion in Spring 2013.